A Borehamwood mother who co-founded a national anti-violence charity has been awarded a MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

Lyn Costello, of Catterick Way, co-founded Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (MAMAA) nearly 16 years ago, to support and campaign for families and friends of murder victims.

Along with fellow co-founder Dee Edwards, Mrs Costello receives the award for services to the vulnerable.

A spokeswoman for the cabinet office said: “MAMAA continue to work with and support families, often for many years after the murder. Mrs Costello has worked tirelessly with families of murder victims for over 15 years.”

The group was created after Mrs Costello read an article written by Ms Edwards — a mother who was appalled at the circumstances of the murder of toddler James Bulger. Together they formed the organisation as a child safety campaign.

On hearing of the award, Mrs Costello said: “I was stunned. It is brilliant for the charity but it is also bitter sweet because we would not need to be here if teenagers were not still dying. We have never done our work for the recognition but because you feel you have to make changes to society.

“There has been a massive surge of interest in the charity recently. We are also getting calls from a lot of parents worried about keeping their children out of trouble because as well as families of victims there are families of perpetrators. The children are not monsters, they have just bad some bad decisions and we must let them know of the dangers of carrying guns and knives.“ As well as working with families and heading campaigns MAMAA works with and trains police family liaison officers to ensure victims’ families are provided with the best possible service following a murder.

Mrs Costello is also trained in running the Be Safe Weapons Awareness Programme, in which she gives presentations to young people in schools around the country on the risks and consequences of carrying knives.

A regular commentator on issues surrounding violence and an advisor to the Government, Mrs Costello was also given a Local Heroes Award by the Home Office in recognition of her work against gun and knife crime in 2005. In 1997, the charity received a Children’s Champion Award from Kidscape, the national anti-bullying organisation.

Despite fears last year that the charity could face closure because of lack of funds, Mrs Costello is keen to continue campaigning.

She said: “It is full steam ahead and we are doing talks all over the country in the coming year spreading the anti-violence message.

“We are constantly working with the Government advising on issues such as stop and search powers and talking to the justice department. We get a lot more done now by having meeting and talking about the issues and problems and how we can make a difference.”